2 Chronicles 26:19

2Ch 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and [had] a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.

Ver. 19. Then Uzziah was wroth.] See on 2Ch 24:21; 2Ch 24:20.

The leprosy even rose up in his forehead.] Let our lay preachers look to it, though not presently punished, as here God will maintain his own order set by himself in Church or State, and take an order, sooner or later, with such as violate the same. See 2Ki 15:5.

Before the priests.] To show that he sideth with them.

From beside the incense altar.] Or, From upon; which showeth, saith one, {a} that by some visible sign - as by some vapour or ashes stirred up, &c., against Uzziah’s face - God manifested that this leprosy was immediately sent from him. Josephus saith that that terrible earthquake {Amo 1:1 Zec 14:5} happened at this time, with other prodigies.

{a} Diod.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch_26:19

Then Uzziah was wroth.

Impatience of reproof

How often is the sinner only provoked to greater wickedness by the obstacles which Divine grace opposes to his wrong-doing! How few men will tolerate the suggestion that their intentions are cruel, selfish, or dishonourable! Remonstrance is an insult, an offence against their personal dignity; they feel that their self-respect demands that they should persevere in their purpose, and that they should resent and punish any one who has tried to thwart them. The most dramatic feature of this episode, the sudden frost of leprosy in the kings forehead, is not without its spiritual antitype. Mens anger at well-merited reproof has often blighted their lives once for all with ineradicable moral leprosy. In the madness of passion they have broken bonds which have hitherto restrained them and committed themselves beyond recall to evil pursuits and fatal friendships. (W. H. Bennett, M.A.)

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The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 26:19. Then Uzziah was wroth — With the priests. While he was wroth the leprosy rose up in his forehead — So that he could not hide his shame: though it is probable it was also in the rest of his body. From beside the incense-altar — By a stroke from an invisible hand, coming from the altar; that he might be assured this was the effect of God’s displeasure.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(19) Then.—And.

Was wroth.—Zaʻaf i.e., foamed with anger.

And had.—And in his hand was a censer (Eze_8:11).

Even.—Omit.

Rose up.—Zarah. The word is not used in this sense elsewhere.

From beside—i.e., near, hard by.

Uzziah’s punishment was the same as that which fell upon Miriam (Num_12:10) and Gehazi (2Ki_5:27). Thenius, while asserting the historical character of Uzziah’s invasion of the sanctuary, declares that the chronicler has followed traditional exegesis in making the king’s leprosy a judgment upon his offence. At all events, we may be sure that the chronicler has given the story as he found it in the history of Uzziah, to which he alludes in 2Ch_26:22.

In Josephus the story is further embellished by the statements that the great earthquake mentioned in Amo_1:1 happened at the moment when Uzziah threatened the opposing priests; and that a ray of sunlight falling upon the king’s face through the Temple roof, which was cloven by the shock, produced the leprosy. (Comp. Amo_4:11; Zec_14:4-5.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19. and had] R.V. and he had.

even rose up] R.V. brake forth.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper,.... See Gill on Kg2 15:5,

for he was cut off from the house of the Lord; not, suffered to enter into that, because of his uncleanness:

and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land; see Kg2 15:5.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Forehead. So that it could not be concealed. According to the rigour of the law, such an offender was to be slain, Num. iii. 10., and xviii. 7. The leprosy was considered as equivalent, and is styled destruction, (v. 16,) and death, Isaias vi. 1. M. See 4 K. xv. 6.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Uzziah was wroth with the priests. The leprosy even rose up in his forehead; so as he could not hide his shame; though it is probable it was also in the rest of his body.

From beside the incense altar; by a stroke from an invisible hand coming from the altar, that he might be assured that this was the effect of God’s just displeasure against him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

19. The leprosy even rose up in his forehead — A judgment as sudden and signal as that which smote Miriam and Gehazi. Num_12:10; 2Ki_5:27. The offence was such as to demand swift and signal retribution.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Render, Then Uzziah was wrath, and in his hand (at that moment) was a censer to burn incense, etc. From the most literal rendering of the Hebrew text, not unfrequently the most forcible Bible English results. From beside; render, at the very side of. (comp. 2Ki_5:27)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

His forehead - So that he could not hide his shame: though it is probable it was also in the rest of his body. From beside - By a stroke from an invisible hand coming from the altar; that he might be assured this was the effect of God's displeasure.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

censer

This is a special pan or bowl used for burning incense.

behold, he had become leprous

The word "behold" here shows that the priests were surprised by what they saw.

They quickly drove him out of there

"They quickly forced him out of there" or "They quickly made him leave"

Yahweh had struck him

This speaks of Yahweh making him sick as if Yahweh had hit him. AT: "Yahweh had made him ill" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

anger

leper

altar

chief priests

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

and in his hand was a censer to burn and he wished to strike the priest who prevented him from burning incense.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.